I did a lot of reading of user reviews, and tested both for noise cancelling in the shop. I decided to buy the XM4s. A LOT of users are saying the XM5 noise cancelling is too clever, so at times there are lags of strength and changes. When the XM5s are in the ideal situation, they do have the best cancellation, but when things are changing people prefer the constant amount of blocking on the XM4. The XM4 partially uses white noise, which I personally like. I had to choose between the XM4 and BOSE QC45s in the end, and it was a really hard decision. The QC45 have excellent basic buttons, are lighter, and very comfortable. For people with smaller heads the QC45 may feeel a bit loose. But in the end I felt the noise cancelling in an average office/shop environment was a tiny bit better on the XM4s, but it was a 50/50 call to choose between these two. Again, many users really like the XM4s.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
This is the best, fair and most persuasive comparative take I've seen on these two headphones. The XM5s are more well rounded and refined but the XM4s have some strengths too. Both are worth their respective price tags.
>Learning curve for folding in a freaking headset?? >Pluspoint for the casing being recyclable and then proceeds to complain about The USBC cable being too short, because he doesn't already have hundreds of those lying around
I have own these since day 1 (not all) - started with the Sony MDR-1000x (gen 1 in 2018) and have since upgraded to the WH-1000XM4 and then recently was gifted the XM5. Now hear me out, for overall sound balance (good across all ranges) - the 1000x still performs very well despite being around 5 years old now, but next I'll have to say the XM4 is my favourite - bass is so good and the overall look/feel of them is just perfect - the XM5 is also good but I find the fact that they don't fold in, have more 'boxy' cups and plainer design just doesn't do for me - granted the sound-cancelling is a little better, I personally feel the XM4 overall is still king although I do have a soft spot for the original 1000x if I'm just cruising for some songs during a walk. That's my honest review.
id love to have your input if you ever see this comment (same for the person down below). But ive been in search for new headphones because i purchased the air pods max but will be returning them due to them simply being way too heavy, and bose just sound too flat for me. So for someone that has never had any experience with any sony headphones which one would you think i should get? theres only a 50$ difference where i live
The comparison becomes a lot more complicated when you factor price differences in different countries. Here in Australia, the XM5s are $150 more expensive than the XM4s at MSRP, however, the gap is generally more like $200 as it's pretty easy to find the XM4s on sale. Seems to make justifying the upgrade much more difficult.
The same her in New Zealand. The MX4 cost NZ$378 VS MX5 cost NZ$598. A wopping $220! Not like the USD50 as in all the youtube comparison youtube videos. It would make the choice much easier.
@@simcaclub Same here in Thailand, I got an XM4 deal at around 194.22 USD, and the XM5 cost like 432 USD so I just went with XM4 since XM5 is a lot more expensive.
Yes, price difference is too large now. But this is a matter of time, prices on XM5 are way too high, and already now are adjusting down. What would be a sustainable price difference between XM4 and XM5?
@@catchtheaman In Europe, in most countries the XM5 recommended retail price including VAT is about 420€; now permanently available for 399€ and sporadically as special offer for 330-340€, for the black version. This comes and goes, as special offers do. I guess the latter will eventually become the common price level, and with time going further down.
Finally a comparison video that is short and consise, yet thorough. I was looking for one that wasn’t half an hour long. You did a perfect job of explaining what you need to know without going into way more detail than you have to. Fantastic video! Earned yourself a new subscriber!
I bought my XM4's in late summer of 2020 and I've since put thousands of hours on them. They are the best headphones I've ever experienced, and for the price, the improvements with the XM5 are marginal. The loss of portability hurts too. I prefer the XM4's. I even named them, as they have provided such quality service for almost 3 years running. Thank you, Lord Chauncy de Philippo Marquis Jackson! Yoo da real MVP!
@@insertnamehere5615 The XM4s frequently go on sale, so for the only marginal upgrade you get with the 5's, I prefer the 4's. Also, I like that the 4's fold.
@@insertnamehere5615 No problem. The 4's go on sale for $280 quite frequently. Whereas the 5's are $400. If you know anyone in the military, and you are near a base, the Exchange (store on base) doesn't charge tax AND I just bought a backup pair for $209. They aren't too frequently on sale to THAT extent, but the average price I've seen is $280 (I.E the sale price everywhere else). It's worth a look if you are near a base and can get on one and buy stuff from it.
How good is the ANC on your XM4's? Do you reckon it can block out construction noises like drilling and hammering going on at your neighbour's appartment?
I owned both the xm4 and xm5. I loved the xm4’s and I couldn’t wait for the 5’s to come out and I ended up selling my xm4 to get the xm5 and I just wasn’t happy with the xm5. So I sold the xm5 to get the xm4 back. If you’re thinking about upgrading to the XM5. Don’t do it.
Some of it is just a matter of personal preference. Other reasons are I feel the xm4 sounds better and better bass, xm4 looks alot cooler than the xm5. The xm5 kinda feels cheaply made. Also when resting the xm5 around my neck it puts to much pressure on my neck. And I haven’t noticed any upgrades tbh. And The xm4’s now cost $278 at Best Buy so it’s really not worth spending $400 for the xm5’s.
@@sedaberry Thank you. On price, they have started falling for XM5. The initial price is unrealistic in view of competing offers, including from Sony and many other brands.
@@sedaberry Is ANC much better with the XM-5s? Thinking about selling my xm-4s which are still going very strong a year and a half later. all really comes down to the ANC for me
Just wore the XM5s on a 24 hour flight trip. Noise Cancelling was next level, better than ear plugs that I use to sleep. Cuts out a lot of annoying high frequency, and you can hear them adjusting to cancel noise The bigger ear cup was very comfortable. Much better than my XM3s. Battery life is exceptional. The case was a concern, but the tapper shape packs really well. The only annoyance is that the headphones don't fold flat with cups facing down when you put them around your neck, you have to put the cups facing up. Amazing upgrade to my XM3s and keepers for comfort and incredible noise cancelling.
Today I returned the XM5 and will stick with my XM4’s. The sound quality was definitely a bit better and when I would first put them on they felt really comfortable. The reason I’m returning them is because for extended use they XM5’s actually started bothering my ears for some reason and I’ve never had that issue with the XM4. Everyone’s head and ears are different so I’m sure there will be lots of people that won’t have this issue
Here the 5's are 420 euros compared to 240 for the 4's, so I'm gonna wait till they're in stores so I can compare them. My music taste seems to favor the 4 and 180 euros is a huge difference for two ostensibly similar products. Great comparison!
recently I bought the xm4 instead of xm5. firstly it can be folded easily and kept coz the mx5 inability to fold is a major decision. second having tried both at the stores for hours don't see much difference in sound quality or noise canceling. third having tested it out on a river boat taxi here in Bangkok / the noisy road outside here in bkk or the noisy engine of the local bus engine it's enough to tell me that the xm4 is more than enough - noise canceling is so good that standing next to a huge motor boat engine I can feel motor of the vibration of the boat engine rather the engine noise sure I can still hear the noise but it's reduced like up to 90% ...... what I can hear is a low muffled humming of the engine. sound quality? having tried the senheiser /bose numerous hours on different occasions with different musics and videos I can say the xm4 sound better the other 2 brand which people are always comparing to at leastto me. battery life amazing coz definitely long battery life ( didn't keep track but didn't have to charge it after a week of on off usage) .......fyi lots of reviewers complained about the xm4 build quality saying it will break anytime but the thing is when one spend this amount of money one would definitely take care when using it and I am OK with the build quality and never once hear the moving part noise from the band of the headset at all after using it for nearly 3 months.
I am using Xb910N, the same design with Xm4 but it's not breaking. That user is probably reckless breaking stuff easily and not handling their things with care.
Thank you for this review. I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Pro2 Earbuds several months ago after purchasing my 2022 Samsung 55 inch OLED SB95 4K television. I didn't like the way the earbuds felt and they sometimes fell out my ears from walking around inside my apartment while watching television. I decided to purchase the Sony WH-1000XM4 Black Friday on sale for $228.00 at Best Buy. I love the Sony XM4 headphones and the sound quality watching television and battery life is fantastic. They are now back to the original price of $349.00 at Best Buy. I realize, there is the Sony WH-1000XM5 for $399.99 on sale at Best Buy for $349.99. I saved $110 on the Sony WH-1000XM4 and this is a good deal. The M4 is just as good as the M5 and I am satisfied with the M4's.
Honestly, I much prefer the design of the XM4's and after seeing that they've removed the folding feature on XM5's, I would stick with the XM4's if you want better travel friendly option. Though, if you don't care about that, sound-wise, the XM5's has better sound accuracy than the XM4's.
Xm5 arrived today, not only it is noticeably lighter than xm4, the noise cancelling is better. I tested on my Southwest flight this evening and the bass is just as good as xm4. My other bose headphones were made obsolete by xm5...
Hey can we turn off noise cancelling and does it stay off every time we switch on/off the headphones? XM4 always turned noise cancelling back on every time headphone was switched on/off regardless of what the last setting was used..
@@rvq9 are you using the app on your android? It will permanently remember your settings. For example, I turned off ambient sound and slightly increased bass setting and it remembers my settings forever
@@csguak hey thanks for the response. The EQ does stay intact in the setting that we put it in, but XM4 would turn Noise cancelling on upon restart even with the app or otherwise (EQ setting are retained however). So basically in XM5 suppose I turn NC OFF, and any ambient sound settings off, it will retains it right? Even if we exit the app…? Also I’m using iOS, should that interfere/matter for this anyhow?
Multiple intercontinental flights throughout the year truly allows you to master traveling light and every mm of space in my carry-on counts. I've put at least 100 hours flying on my XM4s and they're easily the best traveling companion (along with a tablet for movies and shows). I can't justify upgrading to the XM5s if you already own the XM4s unless you frequently make calls when wearing headphones and need the microphone performance improvements.
@@RoMusic2011 I googled and put the people are saying anc is actually better for airplanes after the September update. Anyway there still should be an option to switch. Thanks for the information
Sound quality - I've only had the XM5 headphones one day - (I tried to XM4s three days and remember I've never heard such beautiful bass as the XM4. On the XM5 I've never sounded smooth vocals and certain other sounds sound so gorgeous and smooth and standing out, even on £20000 speakers..... There's a certain hiss and lack of realism about the very high frequencies not being clear, (eg running water sounds like noise) a lot of the different EQ settings on the XM5 give a beautiful different character to the music, but also there's something lacking about the sounds on certain genres, and it's hard to get the EQ sounding just as you want as if there's something not quite right about the character and realism to the sound quality (note, I'm a music producer, used to working with top notch EQs, and pretty good monitors and headphones, so it could actually be something about a low quality Equalizer compared to what you get in music software degrading the balance....) Another thing to note, I returned the XM4s because I noticed distortion after 3 days. I noticed really bad distortion on the XM5s only to figure out it was Spotify on my iPad at fault, it was fine on my phone.... Just in case you run into that problem, it may not be the headphones. So some of my feedback actually may be to do with Spotify's weaknesses.... I'd need to do more wired testing on ALAC, FLAC, WAV and working in music software and LDAC when I get my stolen MP3 player replaced... so I'll come back with a fuller review. I'm also having lots of random music stopping which is really annoying, but I seem to remember that happening on XM4s. It doesn't happen on my Nuraphones (which incidentally have better noise cancelling and magical sound profiling, but really uncomfortable, actually sometimes hurting after long sessions, and a horrible pricing system) I'll definitely keep the XM5s for now, mainly for the gorgeousness of the vocals, as the features are cool too, but I really miss how amazing the bass was on the XM4s and it's distracting me from enjoying the music quite a bit..... But also I'm still worried about the distortion on both devices, and may try switching to different headphones like Momentum 4, Technics or Yamaha..... If you want a quick comparison: Pro tip - listen to LUMP - Late To The Flight on XM4s for the most incredible bass you've heard. I enjoyed that song so much more. Pro tip - listen to Gerhaurd Fankhauser and Einat Gilboa - Native Prayer on the XM5s for the most beautful vocals standing out in the mix. Then decide which is more important to you.
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
I own the XM4 and they have been my travel companion headphones since November 2020 but I just started saving as soon as I watched this video. The carrying case may be bigger but I think I can deal with that. The best comparative video between both headphones that I have seen
@@Doot2131 what’s normal ? And if you want quality they are not expensive at all . Go buy a set of cheap arse cans if that’s what you want And I was replying to the OG comment who obviously had spent similar $$ to get the xm4 so we aren’t talking low quality shit .
I just always left the paper insert in the case with the xm3 and xm4 that shows how to put them in because even though between both models I’ve had them for a few years I still like the reminder.
I had XM3 for the last few years, and following some of these youtube reviews I just bought the XM4 - not the XM5! And I am absolutely happy with this decision. For me this was not based on cost. I travel a lot for work, and when you look at the cases of the XM3/4 and the XM5 , there is a huge difference in size - which is critical when you pack a full size headphones in your already filled backpack . I tried to use the Sony earbuds, but they give me ear pain after a relatively short time, as well as the sound not being the same with the bigger sisters (as well as much better noise cancellation with the big ones). XM4 sounds better I think than XM3 - especially the bass being less boomy but still deep , which was a bit annoying when playing certain songs with XM3. I personally think that XM5 lost its track as a travel NC headphones, and represents a step back from XM4 .
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
No matter how much more advanced the noise cancellation is, the design is a huge deal breaker for me. I'll skip this one and hope they reconsider the design for the XM6.
I still have the xm3's. I have dropped them, stepped on them, used them to wash cars for hours on end. Use them 8 hours a day for work weeks. Still tickin. The only pain is wanting to listen to music in between meetings and repairing them. I think these will make a nice upgrade.
4:04 According to the official specifications provided by Sony, the Sony WH-1000XM5 weigh 0.55 pounds (250 grams), while the Sony WH-1000XM4 weigh 0.56 pounds (254 grams). Are you telling me that you notice that difference??
Pre ordered the XM5's as soon as I saw your last vid on them. The audio quality on the XM4's is much better than the XM5's. Noticeably so. Music playback on the XM5's is just terrible by comparison. However the noise cancelling is much better on the XM5's. Don't think that was a good decision by Sony to fit smaller speakers in the 5's. Some of us want our cake and to eat it too 🙄🙄
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
When these aren't on sale they're only a $50 difference, but during the current sales the XM4's are $230 and the XM5' are $350. The thing is I probably wouldn't buy eithere if they weren't on sale, but the $120 difference during the sale is too good to ignore.
I use a pair of MDR-1RBT headphones from Sony that I replaced the stock pads on with genuine leather pads. Those still sound amazing and I use them daily, despite having much higher end headphones like Airpods Max and Philips Fidelio X3.
@@nightfly4664 I find it entertaining you think you know better when you're taking my comment out of context. I have much higher-end headphones and equipment geared for audiophiles (ie, Sennheiser HD 800) and am aware that the Fidelio X3 and APM don't constitute as "high-end." I meant "higher-end" in regards to their price point and that they're both consumer headphones.
Just got the 5s after comparing BOSE700, the 5s, and the 4s. I’m not expert and didn’t stay in the store all day but I could hear the difference between the 4s and 5s. The 5s are just better, IMO, that the 4s or any of the BOSE. Also the noise cancelling is very good. Only thing I need to do is learn some of the controls. Seems the the SONY tries to guess when to cancel and not.
Used XM4's 2 years. Gave them to my family, bought XM5's returned them after 2 days because of volume adjustment lagging and auto NC optimizer. Bought another XM4's. Best headphones ever! They just work
@@lucaslenartevitz1180 I didnt hear much difference in ANC between XM5 and 4, maybe since then they updated software, but problem was NC optimizer, which XM4 doesnt have so you will have constant NC on
I'm still rocking the xm2 and I love them... They have withstood the test if time and gotten serious miles. The call quality has always been a drawback but actually got better from updates compared to when I first bought them. I got my wife the 3s and she loves them ... I can justify getting the 5s because I do a lot of teams meetings, but I think I will really miss the compact form factor/folding storage. Can anyone help me decide? Price is not a big factor... Just want the ones that I'll be happiest with.
I personally have had an used the xm4s for almost 2 years now and would say they are an all around amazing headphone. if it were me I would personally go for the xm4s unless you could get the xm5s for no more the 50 to 75 dollars more than the xm4s.
@@jacksonreiter7237 I just so happened to pick up xm4s last week at Costco for only 280 CDN. I was still undecided but I let price win me over. Thanks for the reply!
Have had my 4s for about 4 months - extremely comfortable - After a full evening of t.v. watching up to 6-7 a.m. most nights, I fall asleep with them on and am always surprised that they're still there when I wake up!
I have to say, please look into the active ANC feature for the XM5. I found it is way too inconsistent and hope they firmware update to the previous XM4. It gets really frustrating having the NC shift randomly. Lastly, the non-folding design makes the case far larger and should call that out as well.
@@lethargic_cow XM5 have built in optimization NC so if you want to use full NC in noisy environment and you start to talk it will lower NC automatically. Its adjusting by itself while on previous generation if you choose full NC it will always stay the same
I used to own XM4 but i returned it since it was pretty hot and uncomfortable after couple hours of usage, do you think XM5 will much do better in comfort department? i tried & have no problem at all with bose QC 35 ii when it comes to comfort I’m still not sure should i get XM5 or Bose QC45?
Having wear XM3 for two years, The build quality is not built for average working activities. I never used my headphones for running, workout etc. I only use those for my daily browsing and music. The slider started to crack on my right side and soon enough it broke and making the whole slider need to be replace and it was no easy feat to do so. XM4 and XM3 has similar external design they still use those thin and fragile slider, which is prone to break in the future based on my experience. For those who wants an upgrade and wanted to use those for a long period of time and do daily activities with it, personally I think XM5 is worth the upgrade. The design is based on airpod max and bose 700. It’s just a solid piece of slider that can swivel instead of fold. Of course the design seems to compromise a bit of bigger storage but for me I think I prefer them to be tough than prone to break in the future.
As long as the price gap between both headphones is under 150, I would highly recommend the xm5s, I went with the 5s coz i couldn't find it under 250 n the 4s were literally almost the same price as the 5s second i found the 5s on sale for 100 cad less so i got em, now let me tell you when i say the call quality is good, its not good, its a marvel of engineering, ive held tutoring sessions, multiple calls while riding on my bike with a headwind, have had multiple conversations in so many busy places and whenever i asked the other side can you hear the wind or the teacher talking, all of them said no, so i tested the theory out for myself, i recorded the call with multiple different amounts of noise and when i played em back, boy was it ever existing, your voice is crisp and the background noise is 0. like absolute 0 its not even funny how good the mic is. As for the ANC, give it 10 seconds and it lowers the noise by so much its almost dead 0, ive actually been bamboozled by the quality of the anc multiple times when i was wearing them and i took em off to have a conversation and my ears were bombarded with noise i didn't even knew existed. and the comfort is immaculate, never disappointment in battery life. the sound quality is chefs kiss. the app is chefs kiss lets you customize and do whatever you want with it. 100% worth the price. as for the air pods max as I have had some people say its better. it is absolutely not, the anc is not as good as these, the anc on the maxs are pretty good but not as much as these. and then again the only reason i would ever consider buying these is for the mic quality i even only bought these coz of the price reduction but now if i would ever come to the choice of either the 4s or the 5s , these are mind blowing, I have used the air pods pros, they don't even come close to the xm3s let alone the xm5s. the xm5s are quite literally a refined engineering marvel. this truly bamboozling how good these are and no im not exaggerating they actually blew me away and im a geek.
as a person that have both i would say its not worth upgrading at all its small diffrence in the noice cancelling the sound is about the same confort for me its about the same, i think personally the XM5 looks better.. in norway we get xm5 for about 500 euro and xm4 for 200 euro. not worth it at all im returning mine.
Oddly the XM4s were supposed to be more comfortable than the XM3 but I found the XM3 more comfortable and I had connectivity issues with the XM4. What is really good about the Sony headphones is how they sound when used with a Sony Bravia TV. I use my XM3 all the time with an A90J and they sound so good. The only downside is they do get hot and I am intrigued with the XM5 extended wear comments.
Caleb, Don't the XM5s run their calibration constantly, such that environments with surges in sound and randomized noise sources-passing, honking cars-make the headphones sound weird? Another reviewer mentioned this as a huge flaw in how the XM5s implement ANC.
Im still on the fence with ANC....as a student, that is one thing i am focusing on during quiet study times (at home, in public places etc) where people's voices are of most concern....i know both are excellent at ANC, but i am not sure if saving that $50 with XM4 might make me wish i went with XM5 in certain situations where id prefer near to complete silence while studying....i cant even test both out in person is such situations so if anyone can advice to save up with the xm4 or to go with the xm5 and be on the much safer side with ANC???
I’m using xm4 for a year now and I have no idea where the case would be as I don’t use it at all. If I’m traveling I just put the headphones in my backpack and that’s all. If I’m using my car I place it in the glove box. At the office I hang it on my monitor or just leave it in my desk. I don’t understand why foldability is so much important for many people.
The frequency response profile of the Sony XM4 headphones, as measured by the Rtings review site, shows that the entire bass response from 20Hz to 250Hz is elevated by 5-7 decibels relative to the midrange and treble. As Rtings says in their review "the over-emphasized high-bass can muddy the rest of your mix". In June 2022 Rtings published their test results for Sony's XM5 and it shows a bass boost that is virtually IDENTICAL to the XM4. While it has been pointed out that this bass-heavy response can be given a more neutral profile by using the equalization app, I know I would prefer superior bass accuracy in headphones that cost $400. Boomy bass quickly gives me listening fatigue.
I think with the xm4 you get "best bang for the buck"... tried the xm5 today for couple of hours... xm4 got better Audio in my opinion....but the call clearness on the xm5 is absolutly next level....
@@Humada the ANC is truely better but i expect this on 420€ Headphones. friend of mine pre-ordered and get the xm5 yesterday...overall its the "better" one between xm4 and xm5. i think in few months they get cheaper, maybe i get weak soon or later ...^^
@@Humada I was in my local store store today just for new kabels....just asking in point of interest, they got 6 pieces... 3 black, 3 Silver.... In germany, on Release date omg...
It just sounds better. I thought the 4s were going to be as good or better but the 5s were the best from any of the headphones they had for sale at Bestbuy.
I bought the XM5 for a 13 hour flight. I have the XM1s which I love and have worn for many hours. The padding on the headband on the XM5s felt thin and after 6 hours the top of my head hurt. Never had this before with any headphones. Disappointed as the sound quality and other improvements of XM5s is cancelled out by the discomfort of wearing them for long periods.
Yes but I advice to store them with some books in between so the plastic stretches a bit. When brandnew they can give some pressure but that is because they are new. Or if you have a head like from a doll or for a wig you could put the headset on it. But some books also do the trick.
Had the xm3 xm4 and now xm5. Wore the xm4 for an average of 6 hours per day for 3 years and now switched to the xm5. I wear them for music and calls and ear protection during work (woodworking). Reason for le to upgrade to the xm5 was, that whenever I answered a call on the xm4, nobody would hear me. To fix the call, I had to quickly disconnect and reconnect bluetooth -so the other end wouldnt know for 5-6 seconds, what was going on. Vey annoying. No problems with the xm5's. Also...calling quality is worlds better (people hear me perfectly, which was not the case with the xm4).The noise cancelling is not as good in the xm5 as it was in the xm4 (circular saw, and other very loud machinery)...xm4 was amazing in cancelling fast changing high pitched and loud noises, whereas the xm5 is doing a considerable worse job. My experience. I wouldnt upgrade acain, but am keeping them because of the phone answering function actually working. So...if you use them for calls...stick with xm5. If you use them for (really loud) noise cancelling - then xm4.
This was a good compering video! I ordered xm5 yesterday and I can't wait to get them. I was lucky that i waited for one more day waching videos of headphones, cos' the price was 419€. The next day only 299€. Their selling those 349€ now here in Finland, except this one seller is offering xm5 --> 299€.
I upgrade e😢new model no matter what. Every year Caleb makes shows me a new OLED tv that just knocks the socks off last years model. My garbage men love me or hate me. Lol, in with the new out with the old is what I always say. My Lg C1 blew the pants 👖 off my CX, and my CX blew the pants off the C9, and so forth. I have a C2 now and a G2 and have already pre ordered the C3 and G3! Thank you Caleb!
Okay wrong question but right place, nevertheless I’ll go ahead . XM5 vs Bose 700 who stands better? I’m choosing between them and kinda stuck in a loop, I do have a Bose soundbar 700 at home does the ecosystem factor really make a difference? Thoughts and comments please, i’m looking to make a choice soon..
@@leeloodog Thanks for the suggestions, I agree with your ideas and actually I do use the headset daily quite heavily for calls for work zoom teams slack ( I use a simple Jabra elite 45 currently, which does a great job at comfort and long battery life 45- 50 hrs a week been using for over an year and half - just too good ) So i guess the call quality is quite a big deal for me, and that'll help narrow down hopefully, and with Bose being not as comfortable as we'd want may be xm5 might have an edge, but I guess you're right it'll boil down to trying them both and figuring the one fits best, I don't live in US so not sure if I'll have the luxury of trying and returning the one doesn't make the mark , but im hoping the brand stores might have them on display for trials ..
I had a hard time last week deciding between the two, esp coz the XM5 comes in midnight blue. After reading many review sites and watching several TH-cam tech videos... I finally went with the XM4. Didn't get them in my fav color, but the matt black is just fine. They XM4 is SUPER GOOD!!!
The XM5 is a huge upgrade to the XM4. What I like most is the crystal clear neutral sound . ANC is much better and the case design is very good. Take of the ears and straight put in the case without the hassle of trying to get the right direction to fold them .
Many of these launch reviews don’t reflect the problems you will have with them a few months down the line. The XM3 and 4 for example have multiple massive design flaws. They will develop a static crackling noise after a while due to condensation in the ear-cups that can damage the mics. I am not talking about tropical climate zones here, central Europe. You won’t hear about this in reviews, because the issue hasn’t yet developed. Another issue is the creaking of the headphones. Barely move your head and your audio listening experience is interrupted by rather loud plastic on plastic creaking sounds. People have tried to mod theirs with questionable success. Sound quality and ANC performance are great with these Sony headphones - when they work. I would be very careful spending money on headphones that use highly sensitive MEMS microphone arrays. They won’t last very long…
Honestly have both in hand and the noise cancelling is better with the 4 for me ...it's related to the fact that I wear glasses and how that affects the fit.
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
Guys this is important. I’ve had both. New Xm5 is better if for nothing else bc the xm4 headphones break!!!!! Both of mine did within months of buying so for rest of time I had them taped. Xm5 they are secured. Xm4 was good bc they weee flexible / comfortable but so flexible that they easily broke. Still worked but had he taped. Get the new ones. I still can sleep in xm5 (yes I sleep in then bc hate noise ) but won’t have to tape them up
Nice summation. I have the XM4s - love the sound quality but they are lousy for phone calls and become uncomfortable after extended use - my next pair could be XM5s or the Bose 700s.
@@John-86 Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
Having listened to these myself, I found that I could not see a measurable difference in the ANC for the XM3's, the XM4's OR the XM5's. The fact that the XM3's were a great deal cheaper meant it was a slam dunk for me. I'm not saying you're wrong, but the difference between them is so negligible that paying the extra cost simply wasn't worth it.
How about heat dissipation in XM5? My XM4 were so hot, so they felt like designed for ears warming while ice fishing, unlike two other top brands that I have, which feel just warm. I just could not comfirtably use XM4 so got rid of.
@Hatem Kotb I think they're great. Noise cancelling is amazing, they're super comfortable and battery life is perfect for my needs. There's only one thing I would say is not incredible is sound. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good. But I feel xm3 "punchier" than these.
@@dcm010 Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
I bought my XM5 at the end of March. By the beginning of May they stopped working. They say they’re fully charged, 5 seconds later they say they’re low on battery, but will not charge. I’ve reset and hard reset. It’s a physical battery issue. And I spent almost £300 for the privilege 🤦🏼♀️ Gone back to XM4 whilst they get sent off for repair. 🙄 The headband also feels far more secure on the XM4s. I had so many issues with the XM3s. Sony replaced 4 pairs. Yes 4. Because they kept experiencing battery issues. So I was so worried spending more money with Sony headsets but the noise cancelling is something I can’t do without. And my worries were confirmed, even thought there was a 2 generation gap between the XM3s and XM5s 🙄
It might just be your unit, for me the XM4 anc was a total upgrade, other than better noise cancelling, it gives less cabin pressure and doesn't change the sound profile at all (XM3 with anc on sounds a bit different than with anc off).
@@aiki6378 Certainly may have been unit to unit variation. It was a pity because xm4 was slightly more comfortable and not quite as bass heavy as xm3. Neither of them is very good as hifi but I have different headphones for that.
@@nyquist5190 this is a hot take, but i think that the xm4 actually have a decent drivers for hifi, you just.... have to EQ the hell out of it. AutoEQ's Harman target EQ profile is a very good starting point IMO. and then you can start tweaking after that. but yes i can notice the difference in detail using different file types, wired/ldac, with anc (they dont sound as good without it). compared to IEM's like aria and those aroung $100-$150, but compared to those in $240++, yeah your not getting to that territory with xm4's or any bt headphones
I think the non folding is a major bummer as these are first and foremost a set of headphones people travel with. Everyone I know who bought a 1000X headphone bought them to commute.
I have the xm3s and I likely have 10,000 hours of use through the years between music video games exc I use these things a few hours at least everyday, I heard the xm4s weren't much better but if those are fairly better than the xm4s surely I should pull the trigger on those
So I've heard that the adaptive ANC on the XM5's can't be switched off and it can be extremely annoying compared to Sony XM4's ability to turn off the ANC and turn on manually. Is that true? Thanks
I did a lot of reading of user reviews, and tested both for noise cancelling in the shop. I decided to buy the XM4s. A LOT of users are saying the XM5 noise cancelling is too clever, so at times there are lags of strength and changes. When the XM5s are in the ideal situation, they do have the best cancellation, but when things are changing people prefer the constant amount of blocking on the XM4. The XM4 partially uses white noise, which I personally like. I had to choose between the XM4 and BOSE QC45s in the end, and it was a really hard decision. The QC45 have excellent basic buttons, are lighter, and very comfortable. For people with smaller heads the QC45 may feeel a bit loose. But in the end I felt the noise cancelling in an average office/shop environment was a tiny bit better on the XM4s, but it was a 50/50 call to choose between these two. Again, many users really like the XM4s.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
@@desenheanimesonline7521i really dont know about it, i use xm5 and did not notice any constant changes as they state in reviews
@@desenheanimesonline7521 you can always turn it off in the app so not that big a deal
i could of sworn u said this in a another video did u copy and paste your review lol
lmaoo I've seen this comment too@@teddybear33333
This is the best, fair and most persuasive comparative take I've seen on these two headphones. The XM5s are more well rounded and refined but the XM4s have some strengths too. Both are worth their respective price tags.
tor baf nam ki?
>Learning curve for folding in a freaking headset??
>Pluspoint for the casing being recyclable and then proceeds to complain about The USBC cable being too short, because he doesn't already have hundreds of those lying around
Why would they have 4 mikes per ear
@@yup9451 i couldnt do it in the store, and i love more cables and i will find a use for a good one.
Noise cancelling@@p1dru2art
The XM5’s are more like a brother to the XM4’s rather than a successor.
Please elaborate 🤔
@@jrjr7554The Xm5 come from the same parents as the Xm4 so they are technically brothers not successors
More like, non identical twins?
@@doubleh2002 you could say that
XM4 still rocks
I have own these since day 1 (not all) - started with the Sony MDR-1000x (gen 1 in 2018) and have since upgraded to the WH-1000XM4 and then recently was gifted the XM5. Now hear me out, for overall sound balance (good across all ranges) - the 1000x still performs very well despite being around 5 years old now, but next I'll have to say the XM4 is my favourite - bass is so good and the overall look/feel of them is just perfect - the XM5 is also good but I find the fact that they don't fold in, have more 'boxy' cups and plainer design just doesn't do for me - granted the sound-cancelling is a little better, I personally feel the XM4 overall is still king although I do have a soft spot for the original 1000x if I'm just cruising for some songs during a walk. That's my honest review.
Love the XM4, think I'm going to stick with them vs XM5. Love the compatibility of the XM4 for travel.
id love to have your input if you ever see this comment (same for the person down below). But ive been in search for new headphones because i purchased the air pods max but will be returning them due to them simply being way too heavy, and bose just sound too flat for me. So for someone that has never had any experience with any sony headphones which one would you think i should get? theres only a 50$ difference where i live
@@ripewatermelonlol I suggest you go for the X4M overall has good sound and design - should be a little cheaper now too brand new if still available.
The comparison becomes a lot more complicated when you factor price differences in different countries. Here in Australia, the XM5s are $150 more expensive than the XM4s at MSRP, however, the gap is generally more like $200 as it's pretty easy to find the XM4s on sale. Seems to make justifying the upgrade much more difficult.
The same her in New Zealand. The MX4 cost NZ$378 VS MX5 cost NZ$598. A wopping $220! Not like the USD50 as in all the youtube comparison youtube videos. It would make the choice much easier.
@@simcaclub Same here in Thailand, I got an XM4 deal at around 194.22 USD, and the XM5 cost like 432 USD so I just went with XM4 since XM5 is a lot more expensive.
Yes, price difference is too large now. But this is a matter of time, prices on XM5 are way too high, and already now are adjusting down. What would be a sustainable price difference between XM4 and XM5?
Yeah in Australia as well, planning to brak down the price gap a little bit by getting 10% cashback and going through TRS at the airport
@@catchtheaman In Europe, in most countries the XM5 recommended retail price including VAT is about 420€; now permanently available for 399€ and sporadically as special offer for 330-340€, for the black version. This comes and goes, as special offers do. I guess the latter will eventually become the common price level, and with time going further down.
If you have xm4 keep it and wait for xm6
Likewise
And if I don’t have any? Xm5 is 200 more expensive than xm4
When's the 6 coming out?
What if your mx4 are stolen? 😂
@@lagado1lag it’s on sale right now for cheaper than the xm4
Finally a comparison video that is short and consise, yet thorough. I was looking for one that wasn’t half an hour long. You did a perfect job of explaining what you need to know without going into way more detail than you have to. Fantastic video! Earned yourself a new subscriber!
I bought my XM4's in late summer of 2020 and I've since put thousands of hours on them. They are the best headphones I've ever experienced, and for the price, the improvements with the XM5 are marginal. The loss of portability hurts too. I prefer the XM4's. I even named them, as they have provided such quality service for almost 3 years running. Thank you, Lord Chauncy de Philippo Marquis Jackson! Yoo da real MVP!
Do you think I should get these ones then? I am so torn lol as my trusty headphones of 3 years just broke
@@insertnamehere5615 The XM4s frequently go on sale, so for the only marginal upgrade you get with the 5's, I prefer the 4's. Also, I like that the 4's fold.
@@psychopompous3207 alright thanks, it is tempting ngl
@@insertnamehere5615 No problem. The 4's go on sale for $280 quite frequently. Whereas the 5's are $400. If you know anyone in the military, and you are near a base, the Exchange (store on base) doesn't charge tax AND I just bought a backup pair for $209. They aren't too frequently on sale to THAT extent, but the average price I've seen is $280 (I.E the sale price everywhere else). It's worth a look if you are near a base and can get on one and buy stuff from it.
How good is the ANC on your XM4's? Do you reckon it can block out construction noises like drilling and hammering going on at your neighbour's appartment?
I owned both the xm4 and xm5. I loved the xm4’s and I couldn’t wait for the 5’s to come out and I ended up selling my xm4 to get the xm5 and I just wasn’t happy with the xm5. So I sold the xm5 to get the xm4 back. If you’re thinking about upgrading to the XM5. Don’t do it.
Would be nice to know the reasons.
Some of it is just a matter of personal preference. Other reasons are I feel the xm4 sounds better and better bass, xm4 looks alot cooler than the xm5. The xm5 kinda feels cheaply made. Also when resting the xm5 around my neck it puts to much pressure on my neck. And I haven’t noticed any upgrades tbh. And The xm4’s now cost $278 at Best Buy so it’s really not worth spending $400 for the xm5’s.
@@sedaberry Thank you. On price, they have started falling for XM5. The initial price is unrealistic in view of competing offers, including from Sony and many other brands.
@@SK-PODCAST it's not a bug it's a feature
@@sedaberry Is ANC much better with the XM-5s? Thinking about selling my xm-4s which are still going very strong a year and a half later. all really comes down to the ANC for me
Just wore the XM5s on a 24 hour flight trip. Noise Cancelling was next level, better than ear plugs that I use to sleep. Cuts out a lot of annoying high frequency, and you can hear them adjusting to cancel noise
The bigger ear cup was very comfortable. Much better than my XM3s.
Battery life is exceptional. The case was a concern, but the tapper shape packs really well.
The only annoyance is that the headphones don't fold flat with cups facing down when you put them around your neck, you have to put the cups facing up.
Amazing upgrade to my XM3s and keepers for comfort and incredible noise cancelling.
do you know how to do the quick charge thing?
Thanks for the information. I'm also looking to upgrade my XM3 to XM5
@@nhaan4178me too !
Just upgraded from xm3 and it's nice. Time to gift the xm3 away or sell them.
I never fold them (my old 3's) so the 5's was a no brainer for me
Today I returned the XM5 and will stick with my XM4’s. The sound quality was definitely a bit better and when I would first put them on they felt really comfortable. The reason I’m returning them is because for extended use they XM5’s actually started bothering my ears for some reason and I’ve never had that issue with the XM4. Everyone’s head and ears are different so I’m sure there will be lots of people that won’t have this issue
Most likely because you weren’t use to wearing it. When I have new headphones my ears hurt and it sounds way different but I get use to it eventually
@@danielpirie9038 used
Bruh you just curious that's just your excuse because you regretted you purchase.
Lol I hate this kind of people.
I got the xm5 and sold my xm4 to my dad. I miss my xm4s. thinking about selling mine for $200 and just buying xm4 again for the difference.
Here the 5's are 420 euros compared to 240 for the 4's, so I'm gonna wait till they're in stores so I can compare them. My music taste seems to favor the 4 and 180 euros is a huge difference for two ostensibly similar products. Great comparison!
recently I bought the xm4 instead of xm5. firstly it can be folded easily and kept coz the mx5 inability to fold is a major decision. second having tried both at the stores for hours don't see much difference in sound quality or noise canceling. third having tested it out on a river boat taxi here in Bangkok / the noisy road outside here in bkk or the noisy engine of the local bus engine it's enough to tell me that the xm4 is more than enough - noise canceling is so good that standing next to a huge motor boat engine I can feel motor of the vibration of the boat engine rather the engine noise sure I can still hear the noise but it's reduced like up to 90% ...... what I can hear is a low muffled humming of the engine. sound quality? having tried the senheiser /bose numerous hours on different occasions with different musics and videos I can say the xm4 sound better the other 2 brand which people are always comparing to at leastto me. battery life amazing coz definitely long battery life ( didn't keep track but didn't have to charge it after a week of on off usage) .......fyi lots of reviewers complained about the xm4 build quality saying it will break anytime but the thing is when one spend this amount of money one would definitely take care when using it and I am OK with the build quality and never once hear the moving part noise from the band of the headset at all after using it for nearly 3 months.
I am using Xb910N, the same design with Xm4 but it's not breaking. That user is probably reckless breaking stuff easily and not handling their things with care.
kodaph oh I handle it with care and when not in use always in the case so the bud covering don't get dried and brittle later on.
Thank you for this review. I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Pro2 Earbuds several months ago after purchasing my 2022 Samsung 55 inch OLED SB95 4K television. I didn't like the way the earbuds felt and they sometimes fell out my ears from walking around inside my apartment while watching television. I decided to purchase the Sony WH-1000XM4 Black Friday on sale for $228.00 at Best Buy. I love the Sony XM4 headphones and the sound quality watching television and battery life is fantastic. They are now back to the original price of $349.00 at Best Buy. I realize, there is the Sony WH-1000XM5 for $399.99 on sale at Best Buy for $349.99. I saved $110 on the Sony WH-1000XM4 and this is a good deal. The M4 is just as good as the M5 and I am satisfied with the M4's.
the short cable might be so you can't charge the headphones while using them. that's for regulatory reasons.
Honestly, I much prefer the design of the XM4's and after seeing that they've removed the folding feature on XM5's, I would stick with the XM4's if you want better travel friendly option.
Though, if you don't care about that, sound-wise, the XM5's has better sound accuracy than the XM4's.
Xm5 arrived today, not only it is noticeably lighter than xm4, the noise cancelling is better. I tested on my Southwest flight this evening and the bass is just as good as xm4. My other bose headphones were made obsolete by xm5...
Hey can we turn off noise cancelling and does it stay off every time we switch on/off the headphones? XM4 always turned noise cancelling back on every time headphone was switched on/off regardless of what the last setting was used..
@@rvq9 are you using the app on your android? It will permanently remember your settings. For example, I turned off ambient sound and slightly increased bass setting and it remembers my settings forever
@@csguak hey thanks for the response. The EQ does stay intact in the setting that we put it in, but XM4 would turn Noise cancelling on upon restart even with the app or otherwise (EQ setting are retained however). So basically in XM5 suppose I turn NC OFF, and any ambient sound settings off, it will retains it right? Even if we exit the app…? Also I’m using iOS, should that interfere/matter for this anyhow?
How good di the xm5 ANC block out plane noise?
@@bengalsfan42 not perfect, but I felt it quiteter than my bose 700
Thank you, a good honest review. Having only just upgraded from WH-CH710N to WH-1000XM4, I'm more than happy with what I've got.
I got the XM4 last week, too. REALLY GOOD cans!!!
Multiple intercontinental flights throughout the year truly allows you to master traveling light and every mm of space in my carry-on counts. I've put at least 100 hours flying on my XM4s and they're easily the best traveling companion (along with a tablet for movies and shows). I can't justify upgrading to the XM5s if you already own the XM4s unless you frequently make calls when wearing headphones and need the microphone performance improvements.
on plane deffinetly dont recommend XM5's. they have auto NC optimizer and on plane you want full NC
@@RoMusic2011 can't you change it in settings?
@@thoughtrobot9537 No. You can google about it its issue that many people have
@@RoMusic2011 I googled and put the people are saying anc is actually better for airplanes after the September update.
Anyway there still should be an option to switch.
Thanks for the information
@@thoughtrobot9537 NC is better compare to XM4 but its not stable its automatically switching for example if you look down it will lower NC
I’ll keep my XM 3s until they die. Then I’ll get whatever is good at that time. Great vid as usual.
I still have my XM3 and I still love mine. They still sound great compared to the XM5 and the battery still holds up good.
Sound quality - I've only had the XM5 headphones one day - (I tried to XM4s three days and remember I've never heard such beautiful bass as the XM4. On the XM5 I've never sounded smooth vocals and certain other sounds sound so gorgeous and smooth and standing out, even on £20000 speakers..... There's a certain hiss and lack of realism about the very high frequencies not being clear, (eg running water sounds like noise) a lot of the different EQ settings on the XM5 give a beautiful different character to the music, but also there's something lacking about the sounds on certain genres, and it's hard to get the EQ sounding just as you want as if there's something not quite right about the character and realism to the sound quality (note, I'm a music producer, used to working with top notch EQs, and pretty good monitors and headphones, so it could actually be something about a low quality Equalizer compared to what you get in music software degrading the balance....)
Another thing to note, I returned the XM4s because I noticed distortion after 3 days. I noticed really bad distortion on the XM5s only to figure out it was Spotify on my iPad at fault, it was fine on my phone.... Just in case you run into that problem, it may not be the headphones. So some of my feedback actually may be to do with Spotify's weaknesses.... I'd need to do more wired testing on ALAC, FLAC, WAV and working in music software and LDAC when I get my stolen MP3 player replaced... so I'll come back with a fuller review. I'm also having lots of random music stopping which is really annoying, but I seem to remember that happening on XM4s. It doesn't happen on my Nuraphones (which incidentally have better noise cancelling and magical sound profiling, but really uncomfortable, actually sometimes hurting after long sessions, and a horrible pricing system)
I'll definitely keep the XM5s for now, mainly for the gorgeousness of the vocals, as the features are cool too, but I really miss how amazing the bass was on the XM4s and it's distracting me from enjoying the music quite a bit..... But also I'm still worried about the distortion on both devices, and may try switching to different headphones like Momentum 4, Technics or Yamaha.....
If you want a quick comparison:
Pro tip - listen to LUMP - Late To The Flight on XM4s for the most incredible bass you've heard. I enjoyed that song so much more.
Pro tip - listen to Gerhaurd Fankhauser and Einat Gilboa - Native Prayer on the XM5s for the most beautful vocals standing out in the mix.
Then decide which is more important to you.
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
I own the XM4 and they have been my travel companion headphones since November 2020 but I just started saving as soon as I watched this video. The carrying case may be bigger but I think I can deal with that. The best comparative video between both headphones that I have seen
Why would you need to save ? They aren’t expensive.
@@W3TFART they’re certainly more expensive than a normal pair of headphones tho
@@noodles5607 not really .
If you want decent quality you have to pay .
@@W3TFART Which is literally what he said, they're more expensive than a normal pair of headhpones
@@Doot2131 what’s normal ? And if you want quality they are not expensive at all .
Go buy a set of cheap arse cans if that’s what you want
And I was replying to the OG comment who obviously had spent similar $$ to get the xm4 so we aren’t talking low quality shit .
I just always left the paper insert in the case with the xm3 and xm4 that shows how to put them in because even though between both models I’ve had them for a few years I still like the reminder.
I had XM3 for the last few years, and following some of these youtube reviews I just bought the XM4 - not the XM5! And I am absolutely happy with this decision. For me this was not based on cost. I travel a lot for work, and when you look at the cases of the XM3/4 and the XM5 , there is a huge difference in size - which is critical when you pack a full size headphones in your already filled backpack . I tried to use the Sony earbuds, but they give me ear pain after a relatively short time, as well as the sound not being the same with the bigger sisters (as well as much better noise cancellation with the big ones). XM4 sounds better I think than XM3 - especially the bass being less boomy but still deep , which was a bit annoying when playing certain songs with XM3. I personally think that XM5 lost its track as a travel NC headphones, and represents a step back from XM4 .
First time buyer and going with the XM5 seems to make sense until you see the price tag, the differences don't seem big enough to justify it.
Did you get the XM4 instead, and was it worth it?
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
No matter how much more advanced the noise cancellation is, the design is a huge deal breaker for me. I'll skip this one and hope they reconsider the design for the XM6.
I still have the xm3's. I have dropped them, stepped on them, used them to wash cars for hours on end. Use them 8 hours a day for work weeks. Still tickin. The only pain is wanting to listen to music in between meetings and repairing them. I think these will make a nice upgrade.
4:04 According to the official specifications provided by Sony, the Sony WH-1000XM5 weigh 0.55 pounds (250 grams), while the Sony WH-1000XM4 weigh 0.56 pounds (254 grams). Are you telling me that you notice that difference??
Pre ordered the XM5's as soon as I saw your last vid on them.
The audio quality on the XM4's is much better than the XM5's. Noticeably so. Music playback on the XM5's is just terrible by comparison.
However the noise cancelling is much better on the XM5's. Don't think that was a good decision by Sony to fit smaller speakers in the 5's. Some of us want our cake and to eat it too 🙄🙄
Thats what I feel! They sound not as good as the xm4..
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
When these aren't on sale they're only a $50 difference, but during the current sales the XM4's are $230 and the XM5' are $350. The thing is I probably wouldn't buy eithere if they weren't on sale, but the $120 difference during the sale is too good to ignore.
I use a pair of MDR-1RBT headphones from Sony that I replaced the stock pads on with genuine leather pads. Those still sound amazing and I use them daily, despite having much higher end headphones like Airpods Max and Philips Fidelio X3.
I have the MDR-1ABT. I know what you're talking about!
I find it entertaining that you think those are much higher end headphones, haha.
@@nightfly4664 I find it entertaining you think you know better when you're taking my comment out of context. I have much higher-end headphones and equipment geared for audiophiles (ie, Sennheiser HD 800) and am aware that the Fidelio X3 and APM don't constitute as "high-end." I meant "higher-end" in regards to their price point and that they're both consumer headphones.
The MDR-1ABT are quite high end headphones! I always wanted one when they were out but didn't have a job.
Just got the 5s after comparing BOSE700, the 5s, and the 4s. I’m not expert and didn’t stay in the store all day but I could hear the difference between the 4s and 5s. The 5s are just better, IMO, that the 4s or any of the BOSE. Also the noise cancelling is very good. Only thing I need to do is learn some of the controls. Seems the the SONY tries to guess when to cancel and not.
Great work as usual! The review answered all my questions. It’s nice to have a reviewer you can trust consistently.
Used XM4's 2 years. Gave them to my family, bought XM5's returned them after 2 days because of volume adjustment lagging and auto NC optimizer. Bought another XM4's. Best headphones ever! They just work
Wow really 🙈
@@lethargic_cow avoid XM5 if you care about NC
@@RoMusic2011 my priority is ANC, in that case should I get the xm4?
@@lucaslenartevitz1180 I didnt hear much difference in ANC between XM5 and 4, maybe since then they updated software, but problem was NC optimizer, which XM4 doesnt have so you will have constant NC on
@@RoMusic2011 Is the $100 difference worth it between them? I'm seriously considering getting the XM4
XM4 is still so good. One of the best buys I have done. No regrets on buying them!
I'm still rocking the xm2 and I love them... They have withstood the test if time and gotten serious miles. The call quality has always been a drawback but actually got better from updates compared to when I first bought them. I got my wife the 3s and she loves them ... I can justify getting the 5s because I do a lot of teams meetings, but I think I will really miss the compact form factor/folding storage. Can anyone help me decide? Price is not a big factor... Just want the ones that I'll be happiest with.
I personally have had an used the xm4s for almost 2 years now and would say they are an all around amazing headphone. if it were me I would personally go for the xm4s unless you could get the xm5s for no more the 50 to 75 dollars more than the xm4s.
@@jacksonreiter7237 I just so happened to pick up xm4s last week at Costco for only 280 CDN. I was still undecided but I let price win me over. Thanks for the reply!
Yep, I ordered a longer charging cord. I just got the XM5s less than a week ago. They are an upgrade from my old Bose QC2s. What a difference!
Have had my 4s for about 4 months - extremely comfortable - After a full evening of t.v. watching up to 6-7 a.m. most nights, I fall asleep with them on and am always surprised that they're still there when I wake up!
I have to say, please look into the active ANC feature for the XM5. I found it is way too inconsistent and hope they firmware update to the previous XM4. It gets really frustrating having the NC shift randomly. Lastly, the non-folding design makes the case far larger and should call that out as well.
NC is the reason I returned my XM5 and bought XM4 again
@@RoMusic2011 could you explain more?
@@lethargic_cow XM5 have built in optimization NC so if you want to use full NC in noisy environment and you start to talk it will lower NC automatically. Its adjusting by itself while on previous generation if you choose full NC it will always stay the same
@@RoMusic2011 Has an update already been released enabling the deactivation of the automatic NC optimization by the mobile application?
I used to own XM4 but i returned it since it was pretty hot and uncomfortable after couple hours of usage, do you think XM5 will much do better in comfort department? i tried & have no problem at all with bose QC 35 ii when it comes to comfort
I’m still not sure should i get XM5 or Bose QC45?
The XM5s have vents to stop them from being too hot around the ears
Same here.. XM4 returned...
Good question. I didn't return mine (XM4), but I have noticed they get hot and uncomfortable.
Get the wf 1000xm4
Having wear XM3 for two years, The build quality is not built for average working activities. I never used my headphones for running, workout etc. I only use those for my daily browsing and music. The slider started to crack on my right side and soon enough it broke and making the whole slider need to be replace and it was no easy feat to do so. XM4 and XM3 has similar external design they still use those thin and fragile slider, which is prone to break in the future based on my experience.
For those who wants an upgrade and wanted to use those for a long period of time and do daily activities with it, personally I think XM5 is worth the upgrade. The design is based on airpod max and bose 700. It’s just a solid piece of slider that can swivel instead of fold. Of course the design seems to compromise a bit of bigger storage but for me I think I prefer them to be tough than prone to break in the future.
I actually like the flat, thinner storage because I can slide it into a backpack or something with more height than length/width.
Would you rate the XM5's sound quality as better than the Beoplay HX or B&W PX7? And which of the 3 would be the top choice?
As long as the price gap between both headphones is under 150, I would highly recommend the xm5s, I went with the 5s coz i couldn't find it under 250 n the 4s were literally almost the same price as the 5s second i found the 5s on sale for 100 cad less so i got em, now let me tell you when i say the call quality is good, its not good, its a marvel of engineering, ive held tutoring sessions, multiple calls while riding on my bike with a headwind, have had multiple conversations in so many busy places and whenever i asked the other side can you hear the wind or the teacher talking, all of them said no, so i tested the theory out for myself, i recorded the call with multiple different amounts of noise and when i played em back, boy was it ever existing, your voice is crisp and the background noise is 0. like absolute 0 its not even funny how good the mic is. As for the ANC, give it 10 seconds and it lowers the noise by so much its almost dead 0, ive actually been bamboozled by the quality of the anc multiple times when i was wearing them and i took em off to have a conversation and my ears were bombarded with noise i didn't even knew existed. and the comfort is immaculate, never disappointment in battery life. the sound quality is chefs kiss. the app is chefs kiss lets you customize and do whatever you want with it. 100% worth the price. as for the air pods max as I have had some people say its better. it is absolutely not, the anc is not as good as these, the anc on the maxs are pretty good but not as much as these. and then again the only reason i would ever consider buying these is for the mic quality i even only bought these coz of the price reduction but now if i would ever come to the choice of either the 4s or the 5s , these are mind blowing, I have used the air pods pros, they don't even come close to the xm3s let alone the xm5s. the xm5s are quite literally a refined engineering marvel. this truly bamboozling how good these are and no im not exaggerating they actually blew me away and im a geek.
as a person that have both i would say its not worth upgrading at all
its small diffrence in the noice cancelling the sound is about the same
confort for me its about the same, i think personally the XM5 looks better..
in norway we get xm5 for about 500 euro and xm4 for 200 euro. not worth it at all
im returning mine.
I just bought the xm5s and people are saying they are too fragile… now I’m worried
People with ham hands who break shit easily no doubt
Oddly the XM4s were supposed to be more comfortable than the XM3 but I found the XM3 more comfortable and I had connectivity issues with the XM4. What is really good about the Sony headphones is how they sound when used with a Sony Bravia TV. I use my XM3 all the time with an A90J and they sound so good. The only downside is they do get hot and I am intrigued with the XM5 extended wear comments.
My XM3 never got hit, weird.
The only reason I'm thinking about upgrading to the xm5 is for the call quality , other than that i love my xm4
Caleb,
Don't the XM5s run their calibration constantly, such that environments with surges in sound and randomized noise sources-passing, honking cars-make the headphones sound weird?
Another reviewer mentioned this as a huge flaw in how the XM5s implement ANC.
Im still on the fence with ANC....as a student, that is one thing i am focusing on during quiet study times (at home, in public places etc) where people's voices are of most concern....i know both are excellent at ANC, but i am not sure if saving that $50 with XM4 might make me wish i went with XM5 in certain situations where id prefer near to complete silence while studying....i cant even test both out in person is such situations so if anyone can advice to save up with the xm4 or to go with the xm5 and be on the much safer side with ANC???
If you are attending online classes,
XM5 because of good audio quality. If you just want to shut down the outside noise to study, XM4.
@@aubreybondoc thank you....I went with the xm4 cause of your very reason as I didn't really need much for online classes
as somebody who has never owned these headphones. i went ahead and bought the newer xm5
I’m using xm4 for a year now and I have no idea where the case would be as I don’t use it at all.
If I’m traveling I just put the headphones in my backpack and that’s all. If I’m using my car I place it in the glove box. At the office I hang it on my monitor or just leave it in my desk.
I don’t understand why foldability is so much important for many people.
The frequency response profile of the Sony XM4 headphones, as measured by the Rtings review site, shows that the entire bass response from 20Hz to 250Hz is elevated by 5-7 decibels relative to the midrange and treble. As Rtings says in their review "the over-emphasized high-bass can muddy the rest of your mix". In June 2022 Rtings published their test results for Sony's XM5 and it shows a bass boost that is virtually IDENTICAL to the XM4. While it has been pointed out that this bass-heavy response can be given a more neutral profile by using the equalization app, I know I would prefer superior bass accuracy in headphones that cost $400. Boomy bass quickly gives me listening fatigue.
I think with the xm4 you get "best bang for the buck"... tried the xm5 today for couple of hours... xm4 got better Audio in my opinion....but the call clearness on the xm5 is absolutly next level....
not only the call clearance but also the anc the whole new level tho
@@Humada the ANC is truely better but i expect this on 420€ Headphones.
friend of mine pre-ordered and get the xm5 yesterday...overall its the "better" one between xm4 and xm5.
i think in few months they get cheaper, maybe i get weak soon or later ...^^
@@am00x_240i ahaha here in Indonesia still in PO shipment next month :') maybe I'll wait for last minute
@@Humada I was in my local store store today just for new kabels....just asking in point of interest, they got 6 pieces... 3 black, 3 Silver.... In germany, on Release date omg...
I've got a xm4 and I love it. Use it 12h per day. Since the xm5 is quite expensive, I don't see why "upgrade" it
It just sounds better. I thought the 4s were going to be as good or better but the 5s were the best from any of the headphones they had for sale at Bestbuy.
@@gutenbird Good to know
I bought the XM5 for a 13 hour flight. I have the XM1s which I love and have worn for many hours. The padding on the headband on the XM5s felt thin and after 6 hours the top of my head hurt. Never had this before with any headphones. Disappointed as the sound quality and other improvements of XM5s is cancelled out by the discomfort of wearing them for long periods.
How does the plastic feel for the platinum silver model? Is it textured or completely smooth? And does it pick up finger smudges easily?
I prefer the look of the XM3 and XM4. My XM3 headphones are the best if tech I have owned, they just work.
if im going to use these for 8 hours, will this still be comfortable in the ears and not put pressure?
Yes but I advice to store them with some books in between so the plastic stretches a bit. When brandnew they can give some pressure but that is because they are new. Or if you have a head like from a doll or for a wig you could put the headset on it. But some books also do the trick.
Had the xm3 xm4 and now xm5. Wore the xm4 for an average of 6 hours per day for 3 years and now switched to the xm5. I wear them for music and calls and ear protection during work (woodworking). Reason for le to upgrade to the xm5 was, that whenever I answered a call on the xm4, nobody would hear me. To fix the call, I had to quickly disconnect and reconnect bluetooth -so the other end wouldnt know for 5-6 seconds, what was going on. Vey annoying. No problems with the xm5's. Also...calling quality is worlds better (people hear me perfectly, which was not the case with the xm4).The noise cancelling is not as good in the xm5 as it was in the xm4 (circular saw, and other very loud machinery)...xm4 was amazing in cancelling fast changing high pitched and loud noises, whereas the xm5 is doing a considerable worse job. My experience. I wouldnt upgrade acain, but am keeping them because of the phone answering function actually working. So...if you use them for calls...stick with xm5. If you use them for (really loud) noise cancelling - then xm4.
This was a good compering video!
I ordered xm5 yesterday and I can't wait to get them. I was lucky that i waited for one more day waching videos of headphones, cos' the price was 419€. The next day only 299€. Their selling those 349€ now here in Finland, except this one seller is offering xm5 --> 299€.
I upgrade e😢new model no matter what. Every year Caleb makes shows me a new OLED tv that just knocks the socks off last years model. My garbage men love me or hate me. Lol, in with the new out with the old is what I always say. My Lg C1 blew the pants 👖 off my CX, and my CX blew the pants off the C9, and so forth. I have a C2 now and a G2 and have already pre ordered the C3 and G3! Thank you Caleb!
Okay wrong question but right place, nevertheless I’ll go ahead . XM5 vs Bose 700 who stands better? I’m choosing between them and kinda stuck in a loop, I do have a Bose soundbar 700 at home does the ecosystem factor really make a difference? Thoughts and comments please, i’m looking to make a choice soon..
@@leeloodog Thanks for the suggestions, I agree with your ideas and actually I do use the headset daily quite heavily for calls for work zoom teams slack ( I use a simple Jabra elite 45 currently, which does a great job at comfort and long battery life 45- 50 hrs a week been using for over an year and half - just too good ) So i guess the call quality is quite a big deal for me, and that'll help narrow down hopefully, and with Bose being not as comfortable as we'd want may be xm5 might have an edge, but I guess you're right it'll boil down to trying them both and figuring the one fits best, I don't live in US so not sure if I'll have the luxury of trying and returning the one doesn't make the mark , but im hoping the brand stores might have them on display for trials ..
Just picked up XM4s for €180.....the XM5s were €320.......that's a no brainer. XM4s are just great, and at that price, simply unbeatable!
I don't know guys, my MDR1000X still kick ass.
Also, I'm loving this outfit and lighting with the khaki shacket! You look great.
I still have the Sony WH-1000XM3.
The 3 is the most expensive but absolute best headphones I have ever owned.
I had a hard time last week deciding between the two, esp coz the XM5 comes in midnight blue. After reading many review sites and watching several TH-cam tech videos... I finally went with the XM4. Didn't get them in my fav color, but the matt black is just fine. They XM4 is SUPER GOOD!!!
The XM5 is a huge upgrade to the XM4. What I like most is the crystal clear neutral sound . ANC is much better and the case design is very good. Take of the ears and straight put in the case without the hassle of trying to get the right direction to fold them .
Can you turn off the automatic noise cancelling and set it full strength all the time?
Yes you have to turn on the noise cancelling without noise cancelling it also works good because the over ear pads.
I am still loving my xm3
No need to upgrade
Same here!
THE XM4 ARE FAR BETTER TO TRAVEL WITH THEY FOLD UP MUCH SMALLER IN TRAVEL CASE. XM5 ARE FAR MORE BULKY TO TRAVEL WITH BATTERY LIFE IS 95% THE SAME. ❤
Many of these launch reviews don’t reflect the problems you will have with them a few months down the line. The XM3 and 4 for example have multiple massive design flaws.
They will develop a static crackling noise after a while due to condensation in the ear-cups that can damage the mics. I am not talking about tropical climate zones here, central Europe. You won’t hear about this in reviews, because the issue hasn’t yet developed.
Another issue is the creaking of the headphones. Barely move your head and your audio listening experience is interrupted by rather loud plastic on plastic creaking sounds. People have tried to mod theirs with questionable success.
Sound quality and ANC performance are great with these Sony headphones - when they work. I would be very careful spending money on headphones that use highly sensitive MEMS microphone arrays. They won’t last very long…
Thank you for the warning.
I got the cracking sound problem on my 100 dollar skullcandys
I've had my XM3's for 3ish years and I don't have any issues with them. No crackling, no connectivity issues, nothing 🤔
Thanks. This was helpful!
XM4 Refurb would be the best deal overall
Honestly have both in hand and the noise cancelling is better with the 4 for me ...it's related to the fact that I wear glasses and how that affects the fit.
affects
Same
Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
100% I'll keep my XM4, best for me around the house.
Not as good as XM5s.
Definitely not as good as the XM5s.
@@stevemuzak8526 That's great but the XM4's definitely great for me. lol
@@rrusiejr but not as good as xm5
With around the house you mean to run away from your family to have a quiet moment?
Guys this is important. I’ve had both. New Xm5 is better if for nothing else bc the xm4 headphones break!!!!! Both of mine did within months of buying so for rest of time I had them taped. Xm5 they are secured. Xm4 was good bc they weee flexible / comfortable but so flexible that they easily broke. Still worked but had he taped. Get the new ones. I still can sleep in xm5 (yes I sleep in then bc hate noise ) but won’t have to tape them up
I think Sony is making the same move that Bose did when they launched Bose 700 while the QuietComfort 35 II is still sellable in the market..
I had the xm3, xm4, and wanted to upgrade. But you said less bass? Hell naw, all I needed to hear.
😂
Nice summation. I have the XM4s - love the sound quality but they are lousy for phone calls and become uncomfortable after extended use - my next pair could be XM5s or the Bose 700s.
I always get 2 year warranty from best buy and replace them when new model comes out. Just got the xm5
@@John-86 smart I’ma do this
@@John-86 Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
$129 bucks on amazon for the M4 ... hmm Value proposition at the moment are the m4
Still rocking the WH-1000XM3. Even years later, still happy with them. The Sony app however......
Same. Love the M3s
Having listened to these myself, I found that I could not see a measurable difference in the ANC for the XM3's, the XM4's OR the XM5's. The fact that the XM3's were a great deal cheaper meant it was a slam dunk for me. I'm not saying you're wrong, but the difference between them is so negligible that paying the extra cost simply wasn't worth it.
Xm5 is indeed better overall except for the carrying case.
How about heat dissipation in XM5? My XM4 were so hot, so they felt like designed for ears warming while ice fishing, unlike two other top brands that I have, which feel just warm. I just could not comfirtably use XM4 so got rid of.
I've had the xm3 for a couple of years now, and I was hesitant about upgrading... thanks to this balanced review... I just ordered the XM5
How are they? The adaptive noise control I’m concerned about, whenever I had it on it’s so frustrating hearing a little beep and pause as it changes
@@dcm010 you can just turn it off
How are they?
@Hatem Kotb I think they're great. Noise cancelling is amazing, they're super comfortable and battery life is perfect for my needs.
There's only one thing I would say is not incredible is sound. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good. But I feel xm3 "punchier" than these.
@@dcm010 Is it true the otimizador NC automatico constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
Puh, was wondering what should replace my xm3 but now 2 min in its clear xm4 is definetly for me! What a win!
I am a life coach and spend 10 hours a day on a headset. So mic quality, NC, and audio are critical for me. So I am going for the M5.
I bought my XM5 at the end of March. By the beginning of May they stopped working. They say they’re fully charged, 5 seconds later they say they’re low on battery, but will not charge. I’ve reset and hard reset. It’s a physical battery issue. And I spent almost £300 for the privilege 🤦🏼♀️
Gone back to XM4 whilst they get sent off for repair. 🙄
The headband also feels far more secure on the XM4s.
I had so many issues with the XM3s. Sony replaced 4 pairs. Yes 4. Because they kept experiencing battery issues.
So I was so worried spending more money with Sony headsets but the noise cancelling is something I can’t do without. And my worries were confirmed, even thought there was a 2 generation gap between the XM3s and XM5s 🙄
I returned the XM4s and purchased XM3s. Reason for this was the noticeably louder ANC hiss of the XM4s. It will be interesting to try the XM5s.
Good to know
It might just be your unit, for me the XM4 anc was a total upgrade, other than better noise cancelling, it gives less cabin pressure and doesn't change the sound profile at all (XM3 with anc on sounds a bit different than with anc off).
@@aiki6378 Certainly may have been unit to unit variation. It was a pity because xm4 was slightly more comfortable and not quite as bass heavy as xm3. Neither of them is very good as hifi but I have different headphones for that.
@@nyquist5190 this is a hot take, but i think that the xm4 actually have a decent drivers for hifi, you just.... have to EQ the hell out of it. AutoEQ's Harman target EQ profile is a very good starting point IMO. and then you can start tweaking after that. but yes i can notice the difference in detail using different file types, wired/ldac, with anc (they dont sound as good without it). compared to IEM's like aria and those aroung $100-$150, but compared to those in $240++, yeah your not getting to that territory with xm4's or any bt headphones
4:04 waht kind of superhuman hands do you have? XM4 is 254g and XM5 is 250g, and you said it is the most noticable thing?
I think the non folding is a major bummer as these are first and foremost a set of headphones people travel with. Everyone I know who bought a 1000X headphone bought them to commute.
Same i was about to buy xm5
Bt non foldable is the big deal breaker for me
If talk only about the sound quality, xm4 got better bass kicking?
I have the xm3s and I likely have 10,000 hours of use through the years between music video games exc I use these things a few hours at least everyday, I heard the xm4s weren't much better but if those are fairly better than the xm4s surely I should pull the trigger on those
So I've heard that the adaptive ANC on the XM5's can't be switched off and it can be extremely annoying compared to Sony XM4's ability to turn off the ANC and turn on manually.
Is that true?
Thanks
Got my xm4 refurbished with warrant for 159 on ebay 2 or 3 years ago. Love them so much for relaxing.
Excellent review, informative and very clear. Really like it. Just subscribed !
did you find that the silver colour got dirty easily? i’m worried about how the silver ones might discolour over time
should i get the xm5s? I mostly looking for something else because my airpod pros always fall out while working out/ playing basketball.
Over ear headphones for basketball? Get a $50 pair of Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo buds that will stay in your ear for that.
Best headphone reviewer on the internet. Always concise and to the point. Kudos!
Yes sure glad he reviewed the Box